In The Know: State Higher Ed. Chancellor resigns | Tulsa Race Massacre survivors ask for case rehearing, federal investigation | Overcoming Oklahoma's ties to white supremacy | More

In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2024 NOTE: In The Know will be on hiatus for the July 4th holiday and will return Friday, July 5.  Subscribe // View latest headlines 85%   Percentage of Americans who said most elected officials don't care what people like them think. This rate has increased steadily since 2000, when about 55% of Americans felt this way. [Pew Research Center] 7 Facts About Voting — and Myths Being Spread About Them   Voter fraud is extremely rare, and there is simply no evidence to support claims that it is widespread. In this piece, we separate fact from fiction. [Brennan Center for Justice] "One of the things that's most egregious about Ryan Walters' work and about House Bill 1775 is to suggest that Black history is just Black people's history. When in fact, Black folks didn't burn down Greenwood. It's a part of white folks' history, too."   - Quraysh Ali Lansana, a visiting professor at the University of Tulsa, on the recent push to conceal Oklahoma's racial history that lawmakers and other top officials have embraced with new laws such as House Bill 1775, which limits how educators can teach about race. [The Oklahoman] Together Oklahoma and OK Policy will host summer listening sessions in towns and cities across the state, which will offer the opportunity for you to express your ideas and views on policy matters in a collaborative way and let our TOK staff members get the chance to hear directly from you. Participants will be compensated for their time. IMPORTANT: THESE EVENTS ARE FREE, BUT REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. Learn More & Register Oklahoma News   Oklahoma's ties to white supremacy are older than the state itself. Can it be overcome?: Experts who track white nationalism and historians who are versed in Oklahoma's past are not surprised the movement has taken hold in the state. Its history is marked by times when public officials and civic leaders worked to advance white residents at the expense of people of color. [The Oklahoman] Timeline: Tracking Oklahoma's white supremacist roots over more than a century [The Oklahoman] State Government News   Oklahoma governor names new chief of staff: Gov. Kevin Stitt on Tuesday named Grayson Walker as his next chief of staff. Walker will replace Brandon Tatum who is stepping into the role of executive director for the Regional University System of Oklahoma. [Oklahoma Voice] Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt names a new chief of staff [The Oklahoman] State senator says she intends to take Walters, education officials to court: A state senator says she intends to take the state's top school board, the state superintendent and the Oklahoma State Department of Education to court after she was denied entry to a closed-door meeting last week. [Oklahoma Voice]   Oklahoma Senate to tackle youth vaping, cellphones at school: Oklahoma senators during the interim are expected to take a deep dive into cellphones in schools, voucher costs and other topics. Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, approved 39 interim study requests. The requests have been assigned to committees. [Oklahoma Voice]   After 3 years leading Oklahoma higher education, Chancellor Allison Garrett resigning: Late Tuesday, Oklahoma Chancellor Allison Garrett announced her plan to resign from the state's top higher education position in January, about three years after she became the first woman to serve in the role. [NonDoc] Oklahoma higher education chief announces retirement [Oklahoma Voice] Allison Garrett says she'll retire as state higher education chancellor in January 2025 [The Oklahoman]  Oklahoma attorney general to accept airline customers' complaints: Attorney General Gentner Drummond's office said Tuesday that it launched an online form to submit complaints about airline carriers and ticket agents to his office. [Oklahoma Voice] New airline complaint form allows Oklahomans to submit travel grievances [KOCO] Tribal Nations News   Lawmakers aren't planning to study this Oklahoma-tribal relations issue: Oklahoma lawmakers aren't planning to look into Gov. Kevin Stitt's concerns about policing on tribal reservations this fall. The governor's recent reservation public safety task force recommended legislators hold an interim study tied to the issue. But no one filed paperwork to do that, and the final deadline to request an interim study was Friday. [The Oklahoman]   Voting and Election News   Tulsa Judge Dismisses Lawmaker's Election Lawsuit: A Tulsa County judge rejected an election-fraud lawsuit filed by outgoing Sen. Cody Rogers last week, ruling that the legislator failed to provide sufficient evidence that his Republican primary challenger Aaron Reinhardt violated state election laws. [Oklahoma Watch] Rogers considers appealing primary election loss [Public Radio Tulsa] Health News   An estimated 4,000 Oklahomans traveled out-of-state to obtain an abortion in 2023: A near-total abortion ban in Oklahoma means residents are traveling across state lines to obtain an abortion. A new study looks into where they are going. [StateImpact Oklahoma / KGOU]   Criminal Justice News   Legal roundup: Rehearing sought in Race Massacre case, poultry ruling ruffles feathers, UCO settles Title IX suit: Now that the Oklahoma Legislature is (mostly) adjourned for the summer and we have more than a month until the state runoff election, the final workday before Independence Day marks a great time to catch up on court cases and judicial decisions in Oklahoma. [NonDoc] Drummond seeks injunction blocking start of new Title IX rules [Tulsa World] Delaware County judge rules state allowed poultry farms without proper review [Tulsa World] 1921 Massacre survivors want state case reheard, call on Biden to launch federal probe: The last two survivors of the 1921 Race Massacre are hoping to go back to the state's highest court. After the dismissal of their case, attorneys representing survivors Lessie Benningfield Randle and Viola Fletcher want another chance in front of the state's justices. [Public Radio Tulsa] Legal Team and Survivors Map Out New Tulsa Reparations Strategy [The Black Wall Street Times] Tulsa Race Massacre survivors ask for Biden administration intervention [Tulsa World] Last survivors of Tulsa race massacre call for US investigation [Reuters] Housing & Economic Opportunity News   As Eviction Filings Rise, Oklahoma Could Enact Right-to-Counsel Laws: Evictions can be a pipeline to homelessness. They linger as permanent blemishes on a person's court record in Oklahoma. While groups such as Legal Aid Services and Shelterwell are tracking and publicizing the state's standing as one of the worst for evictions, the problem is not correcting itself. Rather, it's getting worse. [Oklahoma Watch]   Economy & Business News   New grocery tax elimination bill to take effect in August: Starting August 29, shoppers may see changes to their grocery bill. House Bill 1955 eliminates the 4.5% grocery tax, which is the state's portion. [KFOR] What items are included in Oklahoma's grocery tax cut? What to know [KOCO] From OK Policy: Statement: Elimination of grocery sales tax is far too little support for low- and middle-income families Education News   Oklahoma education head discusses why he's mandating public schools teach the Bible: A new directive from Oklahoma's top education official requires all public schools to teach the Bible and the Ten Commandments. It comes weeks after Louisiana mandated the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Stephanie Sy discussed more with Ryan Walters, the author of the order and Oklahoma's state superintendent of public education. [PBS NewsHour] Several religious leaders tell Supt. Walters to keep religion out of classrooms [KFOR] Walters' Bible directive draws 'wait-and-see approach' from Collinsville school district [Tulsa World] Long Story Short: Court Blocks Catholic Public School, Superintendent Orders Bible Study (audio) [Oklahoma Watch] Opinion: Oklahoma doesn't have minute of publicly funded instruction time to lend to sectarian studies [Rabbi Vered Harris / The Oklahoman] Oklahoma's new charter school board will meet on nation's first private charter school: Oklahoma's new school board charged with overseeing the future contract of the nation's first private charter school meets July 8. [KOSU]   'You just never really stop being a teacher': Oklahoma educator looks back at journey as National Teacher of the Year: A teacher from Oklahoma is finally coming home after an entire year of traveling the country as National Teacher of the Year. Former Union High School math teacher Rebecka Peterson looks back at what got her there while looking ahead to her new role at Union Public Schools. [News 9]   Community News   July Fourth And Early Black Americans: It's Complicated: On July 15, 1776, the signing of the Declaration of Independence was front-page news in the New-York Gazette and Weekly Mercury. The paper also featured two freedom notices of a different sort. One offered a reward for a 21-year-old Black man named Prince, who had escaped his enslavers and was "supposed to have gone towards Rye [New York] or entered the Army." The other featured two brothers, Nathanial and Jacob, who had escaped from separate enslavers near Long Island, New York. [The Cornell Chronicle via The Oklahoma Eagle]   Local Headlines OKC approves new bus rapid transit routes [Journal Record] Buses, a space cowgirl and the Mother Road's "capital" – the latest Route 66 developments in Tulsa [Public Radio Tulsa] Total Wine & More, denied a permit, appeals the decision; will it open an OKC-area store? [The Oklahoman] Violence intervention nonprofit celebrates progress in Northeast Oklahoma City [KOSU] You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Support Our Work with a Donation Contact Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S. Detroit Ave #1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 United States  918-794-3944 | info@okpolicy.org okpolicy.org    Connect with us:   If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.

New laws go into effect | Implementing community schools would better serve child well-being in Oklahoma | Oklahoma’s 2 largest school districts now both led by Black women, a first in state history

In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry.

TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2024 Subscribe // View latest headlines Implementing community schools would better serve child well-being in Oklahoma (Capitol Update)   The recent 2024 KIDS COUNT® Data Book – published by the Annie E. Casey Foundation and its state partner the Oklahoma Policy Institute – is not good news for Oklahoma. The report is a national and state-by-state comparison of child well-being. Oklahoma ranked 46th overall. There are likely many explanations. Among the solutions suggested by the report is more investment in community schools. [OK Policy] 88%   Percentage of white U.S. households that receive benefits in the first year that a corporate tax break goes into effect. This is disproportionate to the the 67 percent of U.S. households that are white. In contrast, Black and Hispanic households, comprising 12 percent and 9 percent of U.S. households respectively, each receive only 1 percent of the benefits that remain in the U.S. [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy] Who Benefits and Who Pays: How Corporate Tax Breaks Drive Inequality   Policies that provide corporate tax breaks and allow corporate tax avoidance exacerbate racial and income disparities in our economy. These policies limit revenue raised that could finance public investments that benefit everyone. They also shift the distribution of income in favor of the owners of corporate assets, who are disproportionately wealthy and white. Finally, corporate tax policies funnel resources to foreign investors who own a large portion of shares in U.S. corporations. [Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy] "It is our shared belief that every child should see themselves represented in the educators and leaders who guide them in their educational journey."   -Jamie Polk, Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent said in response to the history-making appointments of two Black women selected to lead Oklahoma's two largest school districts, Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Ebony Johnson became the first Black woman to lead the Tulsa Public Schools as superintendent last December. Research has shown a positive impact on minority students' test scores and long-term outcomes when they have a teacher of their same race. [Oklahoma Voice] Oklahoma News   Notable new laws go into effect today in Oklahoma: What to know about cursive, immigration: From immigration bans to mandatory cursive handwriting, Oklahomans saw tons of proposed bills circulate through the news cycle during the 2024 legislative session. Here's a look at some notable bills going into effect Monday, July 1. [The Oklahoman] Dozens of new laws take effect July 1 [Oklahoma Voice] State Government News   Oklahoma lawmaker promises to address 'archaic' election practice: A county in Southern Oklahoma just picked its new sheriff by pulling a name out of a bucket. Now, a state lawmaker has promised new legislation to change the state's procedures for tied elections. [KOSU]   Shift in command: Retired admiral to take over embattled Oklahoma veterans department: The Oklahoma Veterans Commission announced Monday the selection of another retired admiral to head the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, an agency embroiled in controversy since 2023. [The Oklahoman]   Federal Government News   Federal judge stops Oklahoma immigration law from taking effect, Latino community reacts: A federal judge said Friday that Oklahoma's new immigration law cannot take effect because it undermines federal authority by allowing local police to engage in immigration enforcement. [KOSU]   Tribal Nations News   Muscogee Language Dictionary App supplements learning resources: A new Muscogee language dictionary is now available for your smartphone. Two authors, an application developer and language speaker teamed up to bring the Muscogee Language Dictionary App to mobile devices, supplementing language learning and preservation efforts. [KOSU]   Voting and Election News   Former board alternate sues Oklahoma State Election Board: A former Oklahoma County Election Board alternate is suing the Oklahoma State Election Board after it alleged she made false claims. Jenni White was fired from her alternate position on the Oklahoma County Election Board in February after questioning the absentee ballot counting process. Former member Cheryl Williams was also removed. [Oklahoma Voice]   Health News   Oklahoma City demonstrates progress for mental health services in new report: Oklahoma City is increasingly diverting mental health calls to crisis response teams, rather than to police officers, according to a recently released report. From October 2023 to May 2024, the city reported a 27% reduction in mental health-related calls dispatched to the field, dropping from 1,361 to 990, according to the recently released Transformation Progress Report. [The Oklahoman]   Criminal Justice News   Senators say they weren't involved in prison contract negotiations despite DOC claim: Although Oklahoma Department of Corrections Director Steven Harpe told members of the corrections board last week that several state lawmakers were part of the team that helped negotiate a new contract with the GEO Group, at least two of those lawmakers said they had no knowledge of any meetings and were not involved in any negotiations with the GEO Group. [The Oklahoman]   Housing & Economic Opportunity News   Camping Bans Found Constitutional Despite Lack of Shelters: Punishing people experiencing homelessness for sleeping outdoors is not cruel and unusual punishment, even if too few shelter beds are available, the United States Supreme Court said Friday after reviewing City of Grants Pass v. Johnson et al. [Oklahoma Watch] From OK Policy: Criminalizing homelessness is harmful and ineffective Economy & Business News   $51 million federal tech grant could bring up to 56,000 new jobs to Tulsa: Tulsa will receive about $51 million from the federal government for tech innovations and production projected to create up to 56,000 additional jobs in the next 10 years, officials said. [Tulsa World]   Education News   Divisive order showcases Oklahoma's push for more Christian religion in schools: Ryan Walters' directive that Oklahoma public schools should teach from the Bible raised more questions than it answered. Put simply, Walters wants a Bible in every public school classroom, and for every teacher to give lessons from the Bible. [The Oklahoman]   Former Barresi aide, failed Tulsa school board candidate appointed to statewide charter school board: A former aide to State Superintendent Janet Barresi and a failed Tulsa school board candidate have just been appointed to the state governing board that could help decide the next legal steps in the fate of a proposed Catholic charter school whose case may be headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. [Tulsa World]   Oklahoma's 2 largest school districts now both led by Black women, a first in state history: Oklahoma reached a new milestone on Monday with a new superintendent taking office in Oklahoma City Public Schools. For the first time, Black women are simultaneously leading the state's two largest school districts, OKCPS and Tulsa Public Schools. [Oklahoma Voice]   Community News   Looking forward and back as the Civil Rights Act turns 60: It's been 60 years since the 1964 Civil Rights Act was signed into law. Many have cited its impact and other federal laws that came in its wake, including one protecting the right to vote for all citizens and another banning discrimination in housing. [AP/ The Oklahoman] You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail. In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma's state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Support Our Work with a Donation Contact Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S. Detroit Ave #1005 Tulsa, OK 74120 United States  918-794-3944 | info@okpolicy.org okpolicy.org    Connect with us:   If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe.